Friday, July 9, 2010

Half-way There!

Hi everyone! Well, I finally reached the half-way point on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow--Block 6 is finished!! Although this was a block of almost solid stitching, I think it is my favorite one so far. I never got bored with it because there were so many little motifs scattered about to keep things fresh. Don't you love the bonfire and that rustic log cabin perched on the hillside. But, just what is that creature lurking on top of the bridge with his fiery yellow eye? I think he's supposed to be a reindeer, but, he looks pretty ominous to me!

I also like this block so much because it kind of reminds me of my family (not that I can skate--heavens, no--I am hopeless on the ice!). But, when I was growing up, there were three girls and a boy in my family--exactly the same make up as the group of skaters and the tiny sleigh driver featured here. There's me on the right, the oldest of the bunch, probably yelling at my little brother to stop goofing off and making a mental note to tell my mom (when we got home) that he wasn't wearing his mittens! I'm afraid I'm a typical first-born child: organized, conscientious, and too much of a perfectionist. I'd love to be able to relax and not always have to be on time for things, or maybe break the rules now and then, but it's just not in my nature. We were talking about birth order at a family picnic over the weekend and I've been reading a lot about it since then. Two interesting sites I've come across that discuss common birth order traits are: here and here. How about you? Do you have the traits that are most common for your birth order? My guess is that because cross stitching is such an orderly craft with exact counting and stitching, that there are many first-borns who share the love of it...

I had the best time stitching LHN's "Stars and Stripes" as a surprise for one of my first blogging friends, Myra! I was even more excited when I read on her blog that she came home to find it waiting in her mailbox after a particularly hard week at work and that it really lifted her spirits. Isn't it amazing how a kind word or simple gift from a friend can have that effect? I hope to send more of these little gifts out to my blogging friends in the future--it was such fun!

"Stars and Stripes" was stitched on 16 ct. natural Heatherfield fabric with DMC and WDW threads. I did change the outer border color to be the same as the wording rather than the charted brown color. To finish it off into this little pin pillow, I backed it with some burgundy and red checked fabric, added a frayed bow of the same material, a tiny heart button, and trimmed it with some blue cording. I'm so glad you like it, Myra--I truly enjoyed making it for you :)

22 years ago today, my youngest son was born! We were living in the D.C. area at the time--right where he is living this summer and having the experience of a lifetime: interning at the Department of Justice. The week he was born, the weather was almost as unbearably hot as we've had this past week. And yes, in many ways he is a typical youngest child--funny, charming, and outgoing and maybe, just maybe--a "teeny" bit spoiled, but he has made us so proud and I want to wish him the happiest of birthdays! We miss him very much and can't wait to see him in a few weeks...

I was so excited to see comments from so many new readers last week! Thank you all so much for taking the time to say hello. I was able to visit many of your blogs and I loved adding new ones to the ever-growing list of stitching blogs that I follow. I hope you all have a most relaxing and stitch-filled weekend in a nice, cool spot...

56 comments:

Carol, I love block 6! You are doing so well getting these stitched and I loved seeing a pic of the whole piece. What a beauty!

What a sweet gift for Myra with some beautiful finishing!

Happy Birthday to your son! My eldest will celebrate his birthday on Sunday. Is he the typical first born? Yes and no! Having a girl sandwiched between two boys is an interesting mix, she definitely kept things calmer when they were younger!!!

Congratulations on block 6. Your progress is fantastic. I can't imagine tackling such a large project. Your little pillow is just beautiful as well. Happy Birthday to your son. Have a wonderful day, and keep cool.

Congratulations on finishing block 6 and getting to the halfway point! I really admire all your stitchers stitching the HRH pieces - I tried Village and gave up after about a block and a half LOL. Yours looks gorgeous and it's downhill all the way now :)

Love your exchange ornament, such a sweet design and the little fabric bow is just perfect. I must pinch this idea for the future - I sometimes forget to use fabric if I don't have suitable ribbon and this idea works so well. Happy Birthday to your son too!

Oh,and I'm a typical first born too - I can really relate to the perfectionist, not wanting to break the rules thing ;)

Sorry, I'm the youngest in the family! lol! But I'm also organized and conscientious and love stitching! Love your CaHRH so far -- wow! Congrats on being halfway through! I love that skating block too -- never noticed the scary reindeer before! Love that it's so appropriate for your family when you were young. Love the LHN piece you made for Myra too!

block 6 is gorgeous!!!!! I love it & I love your explanation of it.I can see why you get so many comments & blog visits. You have a way with words that is wonderful.Love the gift you made for your friend.....too cute...Another first born here!!! And yes, I have all the first born traits as well!!!!!! Like you, I wish I could just once in a while break out of that trait/habit!Happy birthday to your youngest!!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Congratulations on finishing Block 6 and your accomplishment of being 1/2 way there. Those pieces are huge and I know how much stitching and how many hours must have been donated to get to that point.I am also a first born - bossy, organized, family referree and stitcher!

You have made fantastic progress on this piece! I have resisted the urge to buy this chart even though I know it may be selling for big bucks on EBAY at some point. The skating block reminds me of when we lived in St. Paul, MN, and we had a rink at our school. The parents took turns flooding the parking lot and looking after things. We even got to go out at lunch and skate! There was a wood stove in the warm up shed and I would invariably leave my mittens on it for too long and singe them. Mom wasn't too happy about all that knitting going up in smoke!

Part of the reason why I love cross stitch is because of the orderliness of it. I can't say that I have any particular traits related to my birthing order (I am one of six) and my own kids don't seem to fit a pattern either except that they are very different from each other.

This is my favorite block so far too Carol! It is such a fun winter scene. What is that yellow-eyed creature? Maybe something that lived under the bridge! You have done a gorgeous job of stitching. I love your Stars & Stripes too, and your finishing is just as beautiful as always.

Happy Birthday to your son! I hope the day is a very special one for him.

There is something about Christmas designs that I love, even when the weather is scorching and this one if a beaut. I am the yongest child in my family and was a typical younger child in my teens, dressing outrageously and dying my hair different colours(green, anyone!) I am now really methodical and organised and any craft work has to be just so and always finished before starting anything else. I even hang my clothes in colour groups and co-ordinate everything. I guess a leopard can change its spots! Have a great weekend, Shirley

Congrats on reaching half way Carol and block 6 is really pretty.Myra must have been thrilled with the darling pillow you made, love the little tartan bow you embellished it with.Happy Birthday to your youngest son!

Well, I didn't want it, but now I have to have it. I love how it's stitching up for you! So yes, I am going to put another dent in my credit card and order the Hawk's Run Christmas before there are no more.

Another first born here and yes i too have the traits. Love this block, the 'reindeer' on the bridge looks like the TV reception aeriels that so many UK houses have on their roofs, but i think it probably is a reindeer, he just needs his antlers cutting back a bit LOL

Love the littel gift for Myra, what a little treasure to find in your mailbox

Block 6 is my favorite one as well. You are making nice progress on this piece. I love the snowman standing not too far from the fire and I have no idea what that is supposed to be on top of the bridge and funny I never noticed it until you mentioned it :)

Your recent block of CaHRH is just gorgeous! I love your commentary about your family and birth order too. I'm a first born and seem to be pretty stereotypical. My sister is a classic middle child. We were talking about birth order at work and it was interesting to see that most of my team are either first born or were born many many years after the child closest to them (kind of like a second first born). Interesting stuff.

I love your sixt block i'm a fan of skating and do it a lot.I lived in a place with a lot of canal like streams that were perfect for skating long tracks.I'm good with speedskates and not so good with the hockey one's.I'm a first born to and the only girl and have love stiching since a was able to do it.

Carol, Block 6 is beautiful (as are 1-5) Can't wait to see the "finished product." You have accomplished much in the past few weeks with all of your beauties. It's inspiring! I'm happy to finally be up and running in "blogland."

I found the birth order links very interesting. I'm at least the fourth generation fistborn daughter of firstborn daughters. I learned to cross stitch from my mother who learned to do needlepoint from her mother who learned it from her mother. I don't know beyond that. So far, I haven't been able to rope in my (also firstborn) daughter, but there's still hope! She does like to paint and scrapbook, both of which I did when I was younger and learned from my mother. Both my mother and I lost interest in those because they are not as portable and require more clean up and organization - which are NOT family traits, sadly. ;)

Hey! I was the first-born child too. Most of the first-born child is more patient. :P Happy birthday to your youngest son. It's fun to stitch block by block. I love the bonfire too. :) Your "Stars and Stripes" finishing looks great!

Another first born (and new reader - love your blog) here. Yep, I've got all the traits of a #1, and judging from the number of first born commenters, you are right on the money with your theory about stitchers. Your Hawk Run piece looks amazing, and you did a wonderful job on the little pillow. Your finishing is beautiful. How nice that you made someone's day when they really needed it.

Oh Carol, I love this little pillow you stitched and finished for Myra. Your finishing skills are really great.Very nice progress picture of the HRH piece. All these blocks would also look very pretty when stitched and finished individually. That's what I always think when I see one of them finished on someone's blog.

Welcome!

Welcome ~ I'm so glad you've dropped in for a visit! I love getting to know fellow cross stitchers from around the world, discovering new stitching blogs, and being inspired by your work. I hope you enjoy your visit today and thanks for taking the time to say "hello!"Carol